Pepper Design Blog

Bedroom Insp Board: Peacock Blue, Yellow & Gold

We won’t be adding another full-size bedroom to our house any time soon. Well, we have an office/guest bedroom to create but it will likely be more office than bedroom so that doesn’t really count. BUT I was in the mood to experiment with some of my recent favorite finds, and if I could add a bedroom this one would be dreamy!

Caroline Bed – Urban Home $399, Recycled Metal Etch Shade – Urban Outfitters $49, Cowhide Rug – Urban Home $249, Savannah Dresser – JC Penny $469, Chenille Rug – Urban Outfitters $168, Trellis Wallpaper - Ballard Design $119, Elizabeth III Side Table - Ambiente, Beaded Flower Hook – Urban Outfitters $8, Pearl Trellis Fabric – Thibaut, Garden Envy Gardenia Fabric – Calico Corners, Chestnut Fabric – Thibaut

It’s a bit modern, a bit whimsical, and exactly what I’d try out if we lived in a little cottage or even a city loft. I love the idea of using peacock blues with yellows, golds and LOTS of naturals. The fabric bed is a personal favorite! Especially at that price (did you notice that crazy price?!).

Mixing country cottage chic (aka side table & dresser) with the clean, modern lines of the bed and pendant light softens the entire room. And to paint a few pieces of furniture a bright color like that yellow! Love that. The fabrics (in throw pillows for the bed, maybe?) bring in more playful patterns that pull together all of the room colors and compliments the trellis wallpaper (that would look great along just one wall). The other walls I’d leave white. Ahhh sweet dreaming.

Home Inspiration: House Doctor

I would very much like to find a store like House Doctor here in the States. These rich jewel tones bring a nice contrast to the usual warm fall colors and I love how they look against a white background and with colorful fabrics.

More often than not I shy away from blues and cool tones in favor of earthy, warm colors. But I’m inspired to mix in some contrast this fall in the form of tinted glass vases, saturated table centerpieces and Mediterranean-inspired fabrics after a quick browse through the collection.

Beautiful.

The little details in the above photo are some of my favorites – handmade box shelves in the background lined in beautiful papers, colorful dishware stacked along side pantry items in this open kitchen setting, a recovered black stool in a bright fabric that pops, hand grown herbs at the ready are both practical and pretty.

No, it’s not spring yet. In fact I’m embracing fall to the fullest over here but I couldn’t help but share a bit of inspiration to mix up your usual palette. Thanks, Decor8 for sharing this great find! While you’re over there, don’t miss House Doctor’s creative blog, too.

Before & After: Antique Sideboards

I love a good before & after… especially one that involves chic restyling of antique/vintage pieces that are usually lost in the bustle of an over-crowded thrift shop.

Anyone might dismiss these original sideboards as too dated, too much work, too time consuming… but a careful eye might spot the beautiful curves in those legs, the ornate detail of the carved doors or the solid wood core of a well-made vintage find.

I fell in love with antique-buffets-turned-new after we spotted this one in a local shop:

For photos sake, I wish I could say I knew her before that brilliant coat of turquoise! With the remodel well under way I borrowed these picture from a previous “Favorite Spot” guest post a while back – the dining room now resembles a bit of a stack and pile area.

We love our antique buffet and have slowly added restoration fixes ourselves – new handles, lined cabinets and next on the list is reinforcing those fragile legs.

Here’s a bit more inspiration for a weekend DIY project, each of these thrift finds have been beautifully restored to their former {or improved} life:

Sources: Country Living, House in Progress & Harpers Bazaar.

And a few DIY before & after photos that look incredible!

Navy blue sideboard by LivingEtc via CasaSugar and white dresser-turned-buffet by Holly of Life in the Fun Lane via Simply Elegance.

A bold coat of paint and new handles over at Live, Lush & Laugh:

And a white credenza makeover by Verity and a new yellow buffet by Michelle of Three Men & a Lady {both via design*sponge}.

Top amazing red sideboard before & after image by Jenny of Little Green Notebook.

Happy Goodwill hunting!